Senior Executive Cabinet

Len Munsil, B.S., J.D.

President

Len Munsil is the sixth President of Arizona Christian University, and is an accomplished public policy expert, a conservative organizational entrepreneur, a lawyer, a journalist, an educator and a writer. He has served as an Adjunct Professor and member of the Board of Trustees at ACU. Prior to joining ACU, Munsil served as Founding President and General Counsel for The Center for Arizona Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization.

For his work on behalf of children, families and biblical truth, he has received awards and commendations from Focus on the Family, American Family Association, National Family Legal Foundation, Arizonans for Home Education, the National Association for Marriage Enhancement, and the Center for Arizona Policy. He has trained prosecutors and attorneys, testified as an expert witness, authored books, and drafted legal briefs to courts to help protect children, families and communities from the negative effects of sexually oriented businesses.

Steve Adamson, B.S., M.S., M.Div., Ph.D.

Provost and Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Steve Adamson, a seasoned corporate and academic manager with global experience, is the Provost and Chief Operating Officer of Arizona Christian University. Steve’s academic career includes previous positions as a seminary Provost, Executive Director for an accrediting organization, distance education dean for a start-up Bible college, professor, and online instructor. In addition to being an academic, Steve has a Master of Divinity, and along with his wife Von, enjoyed serving as a supply minister for numerous churches in the Scottish Highlands and Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Before transitioning to academia, Steve had a 20-year corporate career in defense contracting, international technology and management consulting, and telecommunications. He held various management and director level positions with significant time spent working on assignments in Belgium, Canada, Germany, England, France, and Italy.

Dr. Adamson holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Nebraska; he completed all but his dissertation in Operations Research from George Washington University. He has a Master of Divinity from Sangre de Cristo Seminary and a doctorate in Theology and Apologetics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Tim Fischer

Chief Financial Officer

Tim Fischer is the Chief Financial Officer of Arizona Christian University and has held significant leadership positions in higher education for the past 12 years, including serving as the turn-around CFO at Grand Canyon University as it transitioned from near bankruptcy to profitability. Along with higher education organizations, he has been an executive for over 45 years with publicly traded companies, banking institutions and healthcare organizations. He has served on Boards of Directors of accredited universities, commercial banks, hospitals, health maintenance organizations and an internationally recognized research laboratory.

Tim is accomplished in corporate and board governance, building corporate fiscal strength, streamlining operating processes and fostering a culture of regulatory compliance. He is also a partner with FischerGibbs Consulting Group where the practice is focused on:

Corporate turnaround and restructure

Financial control and planning

Title IV and student loan administration

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Growth and change management

Regulatory compliance for higher education and banking

Human Resources and benefits administration

Tim has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from Eastern New Mexico University. He is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona – private industry.

Tim has been married to his wife Janis for 47 years and has two adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Denise Tolitsky

Director of Admissions

Jeff Rutter

Athletic Director

Jeff Rutter has worked in college athletics for the past 16 years. A graduate of Biola University, Jeff got his start as an assistant men’s basketball coach at California Baptist University. After two years at CBU, Jeff started a 10 year stint at Azusa Pacific University. In addition to coaching on the men’s basketball staff, Jeff entered into athletic administration as the Director of Athletic Development. Jeff was a part of an unparalleled run of NAIA athletic excellence as APU took home 10 straight NACDA Director’s Cup awarded to the best overall athletic department. During that time, Azusa Pacific also won 10 straight GSAC All-Sports Awards given to the best department in the distinguished Golden State Athletic Conference. APU Basketball won 4 GSAC Regular Season Championships, 7 GSAC Tournament Championships, and made 10 consecutive trips to the NAIA National Tournament, appearing in the 2005 and 2010 National Championship games.

Jeff arrived at Arizona Christian in 2012 as the Head Men’s Basketball coach. After winning 20 games and qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament in their first season in the GSAC and NAIA Division 1 basketball, ACU men’s continued to improve breaking the school record victories in 2013-14, 2014-15 and again in 2015-16. In January of 2014, Jeff was named Director of Athletics at ACU.

During this time, ACU has been recognized as a Champion of Character institution and has received numerous accolades for the academic success of its athletic teams. Jeff is passionate about college athletics and the growth and transformation that can occur when sports are done well.

Ed Clavell, B.B.A., M.Div., D.Min.

Dean of Academic Affairs

Dr. Ed Clavell is an Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Leadership at ACU. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College School of Business, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, in Leadership, from Phoenix Seminary. Dr. Clavell began his professional career as a metal craftsman and entrepreneur in New York City. Upon moving to Arizona, Dr. Clavell continued his entrepreneurial ventures, as owner-operator of Jessco Industries and production manager of Heritage Metalworks, along the way he transitioned into church ministry and academics. His ministry experiences include; Children’s Pastor, Church Plant Pastor, and Executive Pastor.

Dr. Clavell has served as Dean of Students at Phoenix Seminary, Director of Escuela de Esperanza, adjunct professor at Southwestern/ACU and interim Chair of Biblical Studies Department at Arizona Christian University. He is a member of National Association of Church Business Administrators and Christian Business Faculty Association.

In 2011, Dr. Clavell founded Pilgrimage Consulting, coming alongside; Pastors, Business Leaders and Organizational Leaders to develop strategies and systems needed, to reach the vision God has given these leaders and their organizations to grow His [God’s] Kingdom. He also enjoys being a member of an exciting core of teaching Pastors and leading a Spanish Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church-Tempe.

Dr. Clavell and his wife Sandra live in Chandler, Arizona. They have been married for over 35 years. They have two adult sons Shawn and Justin.

Dr. Clavell is a fan of the game of baseball, with his favorite teams being the Arizona Diamondbacks and NY Mets. In addition, he enjoys music, cooking, reading and spending as much time as he can with his family.

Jared Black, Ph.D.

Dean of Students

Dr. Jared Black is the Dean of Students at Arizona Christian University. In this role, Dr. Black oversees the offices of Student Life, Spiritual Life and Residence Life, as well as programs related to student conduct, new student orientation, retention, career services and student leadership development. Dr. Black and his team also work closely with programs related to Title IX, disability services, and counseling services.

Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Black served as the Director of Student Engagement at ACU and held other student affairs roles, including positions working with student organizations (University of Kentucky), campus activities (Arizona State University), and residence life (Belmont University). In addition to his administrative experience, Dr. Black has taught college courses on major and career exploration, education in American culture, and Biblical worldview and culture.

Dr. Black earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Belmont University, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education from the University of Kentucky.

A native Kentuckian, Dr. Black loves University of Kentucky basketball and enjoys golf, music, learning new things, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Black and his wife Natalie live in Phoenix, Arizona with their three sons.